New Medicare Competitive Bidding Program

[Guest guest]

Since we've been talking about oxygen and suppliers, and this may have been mentioned here before, but for those on medicare, a competitive bidding program will start in certain areas on July 1. Unfortunately, I happen to live in one of those areas. I've indicated them below. But, this program is intended to expand further in 2009.

Now, your current oxygen supplier may choose to be grandfathered (basically accepting the bid rates) and continue to supply you. If they don't you'll have to switch to the bid winner. So, unfortunately, your freedom of choice will be gone.

Important!

Starting July 1, 2008, a new Competitive Bidding Program will take effect in certain areas of the country. This new program changes the way Medicare pays suppliers for certain medical equipment. You may be affected by the first phase of this program if you live or visit one of the following locations:

Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC

Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN

Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX

Kansas City, MO-KS

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach, FL

Orlando, FL

Pittsburgh, PA

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

San -Caguas-Guaynabo, PR

For more information about how the Competitive Bidding Program will affect you, or to find out if your zip code is included in the areas initially affected by this new program, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-). TTY users should call 1-. You can also visit www.medicare.gov on the web to get updated information on the Competitive Bidding Program. The program is scheduled to expand to 70 additional areas in 2009.

Also, links to two documents. The first it medicare's document on durable medical equipment and the second is on the bidding process.

www.medicare.gov/publications/pub/pdf/11045.pdf

www.medicare.gov/publications/pub/pdf/11037.pdf